With local elections  around the corner, it is important for students to realize their role in the Baldwin City community.

Baker students represent such a large porion of the population in Baldwin City, which means their voices are valuable. 

Too often, it seems, students gripe and moan about troubles in their community – at the university level and outside – without taking the initiative to request change. 

Now is their chance.

Students should register to vote in the upcoming city council elections because the candidates represent the future of the Baker community. 

For those students who are freshmen and sophomores, the candidates up for positions will sign on for terms that will extend until those students’ graduation date.

Most students argue they already are registered to vote in their hometowns. 

While it is admirable they are at least taking part in the democratic process, it seems foolish to elect officers for positions in a community in which the students live for just three months out of the year. 

Another problem that surfaces when students discuss registering to vote in Baldwin City is their lack of knowledge about the candidates.

This problem easily is curable. In last week’s issue of The Baker Orange, a complete list of candidates was featured on the front page with bios of each one. 

For more coverage, students may turn to www.BaldwinCity.com.

Being uninformed is irresponsible, so if students are legitimately interested in making a difference in their community, they should research the candidates properly and voice their opinions.

There is no better way to express one’s adulthood than taking a position on the local elections.